Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich (10 December 1956-) was a member of the US House of Representatives (D-IL 5) from 3 January 1997 to 3 January 2003 (succeeding Michael Patrick Flanagan and preceding Rahm Emanuel) and Governor of Illinois from 13 January 2003 to 29 January 2009 (succeeding George Ryan and preceding Pat Quinn).

Biography
Rod Blagojevich was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1956 to Serb immigrant parents, and he worked several working-class jobs and trained as a Golden Gloves boxer, competing for 13 months. He voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984, and he later became Cook County Assistant State's Attorney and served in the State House from 1993 to 1997, in the US House of Representatives, and as Governor from 2003 to 2009. He sought to strengthen the state's judicial system and reduce crime, and he supported the Iraq War. As Governor, he achieved progressive legislation such as ethics reform, death penalty reform, an earned income tax credit, a statewide comprehensive smoking ban, expansion of healthcare programs, and anti-discrimination laws. He increased education funding every year he was Governor, and he also funded the state's transportation infrastructure. In 2009, he was impeached and sentenced to 14 years in prison for selling political offices, including Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat.